it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in every Synagogue yea so as to persecute them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to strange or remote cities Damascus by what you heard before was at a pretty distance But although in all this he sorely tyrannized over their bodies and outward man yet you may hope he attempted not their souls our Saviour seemeth to set bounds to these raging waves Hitherto shall you go and no further and therefore saith that when they have killed the body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have nothing more that they can do Luk. 12. 4. And blessed be God that they have not in that sense which our Saviour there intendeth and yet the devilish Assasinate after he hath made his wretched enemy blaspheme Christ can then stab him that he may undo body and soul both together our Saul arose not to that height of hellish malice but he went very far when he compelled them to blaspheme And might he not then well add 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he was raving mad nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exceeding mad when he added a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where our Saviour said there was not a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now truly this was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. 1. 21. an abundant superfluity of malicious madnesse so that where sin did thus abound unlesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 5. 20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grace had not much more abounded as he humbly and thankfully afterwards acknowledged it did to him in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it was exceeding abundant 1 Tim. 1. 14. he had been past hope of receiving any mercy from God who had shewed so little but the quite contrary to his people But it may be thought I have stepped too far out of the way and insisted too long on the view of this sad spectacle you will more easily pardon me while ye think that such dolefull objects sometimes make us stand still and fix our eyes on them 2 Sam. 20. 12. 2 Sam. 2. 23. as much as those that are more pleasing But to return to what I intended all these sad passages of Pauls outrage I have the rather mentioned and so largely insisted upon to shew How far some may go in a desperate way whom yet afterwards God in mercy may bring home And how far blinde zeal and seeming good intentions such were in Paul all this while may carry men in such a way And how open ingenuous punctuall and abundant such as Paul here was should be in their 1 Cor. 15. 9. 1 Tim. 1. 13. humble confessions afterward But especially and to my present purpose to shew when it is that after foregoing troubles and exercises God useth to vouchsafe rest to his wearied people and Churches Deut. 32. 36. and that is after the heaviest pressures a birth after the sharpest throwes day-break when it had been darkest a little before So Christ tarrieth till the fourth watch of the night and cometh in the heighth of a storme to make a calm of it when the ship was now sinking Mat. 14. 24 25. as in the same place when Peter was also sinking he then immediately stretched forth his hand and caught him v. 30 31. When their afflictions are so continued multiplied aggravated that they can bear no more God will then stay no longer but he that shall come will come and then not tarry Then a still voice cometh and God in it after the winde earthquakes and fire after an Hab. 2. 3. 1 King 19. 11 12. Gen. 26. 20 21 22. Ezek and Siâ—nah then a Rehoboth Then as it is in the Text or Therefore the Churches had rest And if you ask why so or Why. wherefore Then I answer with the Psalmist Reason 1 God remembreth us in our low estate because his mercy endureth Psal 126. 26. for ever Because his mercies endure for ever therefore it is that our miserie do not last alwayes The Churches affliction is not because Gods faithfulness and compassion is everlasting And hence it is that although as the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if need 1 Pet. 1 6. be the people of God be in heaviness through manifold temptations yet when that Need is over because he doth not willingly or from the heart afflict or grieve the children of men much less his own children when the child is humbled the Father more willingly casts away the rod then ever he took it into his hand and therefore although being constrained he sometimes and that for our good causeth grief yet then he will have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Lam. 2. 32 33. And if at any time we think he tarrieth long before he sheweth mercy it is onely because indeed we stay long before we are fit to receive it Make we but haste and he will not stay long he then tarrieth nor and so reconcileth that seeming contradiction Luke 18. 7. with 8. that although he bear long with them viz. Till they be ready yet when once they are he will then avenge them speedily so that although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He reserveth wrath for his enemies Nahum 1. 2. yet it is expresly said and that in the same word on the contrary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will not keep anger for ever towards his children Psal 103. 9. they are his own words I will for this afflict the seed of David but not for ever 1 King 11. 39. Such and so great is the sweetnesse of his goodnesse Such is the wisdom that is from above in us and therefore infinitely more transcendent that above all is in God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gentle and easie to be intreated James 3. 17. And such also his faithfulnesse and righteousness not to forget his servants work and labour of love and patience of hope in their former sufferings but to reward them with proportionable after rest and comfort and so we read Isa 40. 1. Comfort ye comfort ye my peo-people double comfort as they had received of him double for their sins v. 2. Nor this onely at death when they shall most certainly rest from their labours nor in Heaven onely where they Rev. 14. 13 shall have an everlasting sabbath of rest from all their toilsome Heb. 4. 9 travell here but oftentimes even in this life Christ knoweth how to make his flock to rest at Cant. 1. 7. noon as he took his Disciples aside and bad them rest a while when by their wearisome imployment they had not so much leisure as to eat Mat. 6. 31. which we have most elegantly expressed by the Prophet comparing Gods tenderest care of his wearied servants to the wise and merciful Husbandmans care of his wearied beast Hose 11. 4. I was to them as they that take off the yoak on their jawes as the Plowman doth from off his oxen when come home from work
exercises and so it may be with the latter days of particular Churches or Christians for outward matters the last of their way may prove the foulest and deepest yea in which some of them have met with greatest exercises of the inward man as well as the outward much variety herein is in Gods severall dispensations with his pâ—rticular servants but in the generall we may conclude That it is in the grave where the weary Isa 57. 2. are for altogether at rest Job 3. 17. and in Heaven only which was typed out by Canaans rest that a perfect and everlasting Sabbatisme or rest remaineth for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. Ruth Ruth 1. 9. was to find rest in her husbands house and so must the spouse of Christ onely in her husbands and that 's heaven where onely it is that we shall never be troubled more The world to come is the world say the Rabbines where all is well There then the Churches once for all shall have rest and therefore take we not up our rest till we get thither and meanwhile in this our distance and absence let this be the frequently reiterated wish and voice of every one of our Souls Vtinam domi essem as it is in the proverb although through Gods mercy sometimes here I may not be very ill at ease yet I would that I were at home though I am sure I shall there be perfectly well in mine everlasting rest here sometimes wee See Z ' ne by in loucium may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2. 28. less sorrowfull then at some other times we are but never altogether 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wholly without all touch of grief and disquiet and therefore to that man who takes up his rest on earth me thinks Drexelius propounds a very fit question An coelum desperasti Hoâ—olog pâ—â—t t. 2. in Epilogo vain man but dost thou wholly despair of heaven that thou takest up thy statioÌ„ here on earth for shame up and be stirring look and walk pant and breath after heaven what ever outward rest God sendeth thee let it only refresh and inable thee to unwearied restless motions towards thy best home where thou mayest rest in thy dearest Fathers and Husbands warm bosoms never more to be disturbed or disquieted Long for heaven that is the first And be looking long after some Vse 2 better days of peace and rest which God hath promised his Church even in this world yet expected but not as yet come It is true that after the ceasing of the primitive persecutions the Churches of Christ under Constantine and other Christian Emperors enjoyed many joyfull Sabbaths of rest but yet they have not been without their soar working days Pope and Turk and other enemies have proved such cruel Talkmasters that the Church hath too sad occasion to take up again the old Lamentation Our necks are under persecution Lam. 5. 5. we labour and have no rest and that other Woe is me Jer. 4. 31. now for my soul is wearied because of murderers But yet after all this God promiseth a time when his people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in quiet resting places Isa 32. 17 18. when the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of Finch in locum righteousness quietness and assurance for ever And after that both the Beast and false Prophet and Gog and Revel 19. 20. 20. 9 10. Magog and together with them the Devil that deceived them shall be cast into the lake of fire we read of a new heaven and a Revel 22. 1 2. 4. new earth and of a new Jerusalem a vision of peace that shall come down from God out of Heaven and therefore is to be on earth when God shall wipe away all teares from his peoples eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of their Brightman very eyes so to dry up the spring that as there shall be no outward occasion so no inward ability of weeping and there shall be no death neither sorrow nor crying nor any more pain all such former things being passed away This indeed the Scripture Dan. 12. 1 2. seemeth to express may be ushered in with greatest troubles as usually greatest births of Gods bounty are wont to be and should those happier times as some are ready to think be now nearer and faster coming on our present days and tempers or distempers are such as may make a very sad preface to so happy a work but yet this dark stormy night shall not hinder Sun-rise and that clear morning and bright day in which the Churches shall injoy more rest then hitherto they have attained But what I have thus said I desire may not be so understood and interpreted as though 1. Either I hereby intend with many now adays to cry up a fifth Monarchy to introduce confusion and Anarchy for even in those happy days the Prophet speaks of Kings that shall be nursing Fathers and of Queens as nursing Mothers to the Church of God Isa 49. 23. 2. Or that I either think or wish that what David saith of Dan. 7. 22. the Saints possessing the kingdome should be the lot of many such as in our days have monopolized the Title of Saints which is made of late a term of Art and a very juggle and assumed by Quakers Ranters Adamites and other most abominable Sectaries Saints per Antiphrasin As the unnaturall Sodomites in the old Testament are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word signifieth Saints or holy ones they were Saint Sodomites and ours are Saint Ranters which hath made the very name of a Saint and much more the persons of those that are truely such to profane Souls odious Should such Saints as these are once have the rule it is to be feared the Churches would have little of this rest which the Text speaketh of However their frenzies should not prejudice the truth of God w th sober-spirited Christians who upon their best thoughts shall in the Scripture especially in the Prophets finde many promises of such peaceable days not as yet fully accomplished which therefore it is our duty to look and pray and prepare for as the sweet close of the Churches troubles in this world and a most joyfull both pledge and praeludium of the Saints everlasting rest in heaven Mean while in the last place Vse 3 let it minde us of this Nation both of Gods mercy and our duty in reference to his present dispensations Some years since it was but little rest and peace which the Churches and servants of Christ among us had either of conscience or outward man through some mens restlesness That quarrell of Gods Covenant when those Disturbers sat still and were at Zech. 1. 11. rest he undertook in the late wars that he might at the last as the prophet speaketh give rest Jer. 50. 34. to the land and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon
Brought to Christ and built upon him as the onely true Foundation 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. and in reference onely to him upon the doctrinall foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ mean while continuing the corner-stone Eph. 2. 20. 2. And thereupon are confirmed and grow up in grace both in themselves and with one another as it 's added Eph. 2. 21. in whom all the building fitly framed together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. And thus we are said to be edified in knowledge 1 Cor. 14. 4. in faith Jude v. 20. in love 1 Cor. 8. 1. Eph. 4. 16. and the like may be said of all other gaces 3. So that a good life as the topstone is laid upon good doctrine an outward holy conversation is added to all our inward grace and holy profession then and truly not till then may we cry Grace grace to it as in the building of the second Temple Zechariah 4. 7. 4. And when we are thus converted and edified we further labour to strengthen and build up our Brethren Luke 22. 32. 1 Thes 5. 11. And therefore now for the applying Vse of this to our selves In the forementioned particulars we have our work cut out to our hand and laid before us we now have rest as these here had it concerneth us therefore not now to be negligent 2 Chron. 29. 11. and idle but to get up and be doing that we may be edified as they were And here our first great care must be that Christ in all be laid for the only foundation You may possibly think this a strange lesson to be taught them who already professe themselves Christians as though we had need to lay again the foundation as the Apostle speaketh Heb. 6. 1. but that our unhappy times are most unhappily become like those which the Psalmist in his dayes spake of in which Psal 11. 3. Foundations were destroyed For now that I may use the Apostles words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very principles of the doctrine of Christ the most Fundamental Scripture-truths such I mean as are not onely sufficient to build us up in a good life as some now Dr H. of Fundam cap. 1. mince it but such as are absolutely to be believed and practised to salvation are not onely doubted of but boldly and blasphemously denyed and impugned and this for the most part impunè and without controul Whilest the Papist robs Christ of his offices the Socinian spoileth him of his Deity the Antiscripturist of the Scepter of his Kingdom and others blaspheme him into a Notion a Forme a very Impostor Lord is thy Church edified when foundations are thus overturned and what can what should the righteous now do But the more that others pull down the more they should labour to build up both themselves and others in their most holy faith upon the foundations of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Jude 20. Eph. 2. 20. Christ himself being the corner-stone with whom whosoever gathereth Math. 12. 30. not scattereth and on whom whosoever be he othrewise never so great a master builder buildeth not besides what he doth to others is certain to ruine himself unavoidably irrecoverably we know to this purpose what became of those Builders that rejected this precious Corner-stone Matth. 24. 42 43. and still and ever that will prove true which followeth v. 44. That whosoever falleth on this stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grinde him to powder He is sure to build a Babel of confusion who layeth not Christ first for the onely foundation It is said Luke 17 28. that in the dayes of Lot they planted they builded but fire and brimstone from heaven soon consumed all those buildings and in this busie age of ours we are as intent to raise up Fabricks of our own both in our opinions and judgements and in our other designes and practises thereby to advance our estates or esteemes and because Christ and his Truth and Grace will not cannot square with them with those Builders we leave him out and lay him aside as not for our turn But what Castle-come-downs will all such buildings prove that are daub'd with such Ezek. 13. 10 11. untempered morter Certainly such wood hay and stubble will burn Such buildings will not stand that are built upon the sand Mat. 7. 24 25 26 27. and not on this rock In the close it will be found that this is not to edification but to destruction let our first care therefore be to make Christ our ground-work and foundation And then the second should be that the Ordinances of Christ be set up and kept up in their purity and power This is Gods building up of Zion when he Psal 102. 16. builds a Tower a Temple in the midst of his vineyard Isa 5 2. and setleth all the Formes Ordinances Ezech. 43. 11. and offices of his house This is the building of the Church both in reference to the generall constitution of the whole as also to the saving edification of the severall members of it When the wholesome word of God is dispensed according to his will for it is able to build us up Acts 20. 32. And when Sacraments and Censures are administred according to his Word for in the stedfast continuance and communion in these Ordinances the first and best Believers grew up increased and multiplied Acts 2. 41 42 c. And from hence take we notice of our sin and duty 1. Our sin in this particular is Our sin very great for although through Gods mercy the State hath some rest yet the Church according to those particulars is very far from being edified We are still on the pulling-down hand or if building up it is of Babels in which we cannot agree or understand one another nay of Temples and Altars to Idols which was not only Manassehs sin 2 Chron. 33. 3 4 5. but even Solomons 1 Kings 11. 7. which the Prophets up and down cry out of in Israel and Judah and in the mean while of the neglect and ruine of Gods Temple a sin which we are sadly and deeply guilty of whilest 1. The Fanatick Enthusiast is caught up so high in the Spirit that he now is gotten above all Ordinances and doth tanquam ex alto despicere undervalue and despise them as poor empty Formes and weak beggerly Rudiments and elements for those of lower Attainments as they in their gibberish are pleased to phrase them to be trained up with The Lord humble the blasphemous pride of these self-conceited men who thus attempt to spurn down as much below them Christs own Institutions which he hath appointed as fit and able by his blessing to build up his people in faith and love and by an humble and faithful improvement whereof many of their betters both dead and alive have attained to so much inward settlement and peace and far
as our Translators do The Comfort of the holy Ghost in which sense the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is mâ—st commonly taken in the New Testament it runn's more smoothly and is understood more easily and so I shall crave leave to take it and accordingly the meaning is that they conversing as in Gods fear so in the comfort and joy of the Spirit viz. which he worketh and maintaineth felt in their hearts and expressed to one another and to all in their lives they thereupon were edified themselves and were multiplied by the accession of others The Second thing therefore which we have now to do is to shew that as it was here with these happy Christians in the Text so it is incumbent on us now in this time of our peace to indevour to walk in the comfort of the holy Ghost This the Scripture elsewhere calleth the walking in the light of Gods countenance as Psal 89. 15 16. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk ô Lord in the light of thy countenance and in thy name They shall rejoyce all the day That joyfull sound signifieth the presence of God with his people as the sounding of the trumpets did in the Law when they went out to battell When therefore Gods people hear and take notice of such a joyfull sound so that as Balaam said Numb 23. 21. God is with them and the shoute of a King is among them as over-mastering their enemies and giving them rest and peace then they are to walk and march on in the light of his countenance so as in his name to rejoyce all the day By it we should be able to do as much in the darkest night as Job saith when Gods candle show upon his head by his light he walked through darkness Job 29. 3. but with how much more joy in God when in a brighter day the Sun of righteousness shineth out in brighter beams of love and mercy In outward peace we should have inward joy and spiritual comfort in temporal Psal 18. 19. refreshments and when in times of peace we may walk abroad at large we should have hearts inlarged to walk as in the fear of the Lord so in the comfort of the holy Ghost First that this tcomfort Reas 1 may qualify that Fear and characterize and evidence it to be the fear of God when joyned with the peace and comfort and joy of the holy Ghost a slavish fear hath torment saith the Apostle 1 John 4. 18. and therefore no joy but in heavenly and more ingenuous tempers Godly fear and spiritual joy know the way how to meet and imbrace and uphold one the other Natural fear contracteth the heart but an holy fear inlargeth it Isa 60. 5. in those happier days of the Church it is said Thy heart shall fear and be inlarged when taken with a reverential awe and admiration of Gods wonderfull goodness then most inlarged in joyfull praises and thanksgivings So it is and will be most fully in heaven God no where else so reverentially feared nor no where so much rejoyced in and praysed such a blessed heavenly temper we should be aspiring to here below to fear God and his goodness Hos 3. 5. and to rejoyce in his goodness Nehem. 9. 25. together Then especially we ought to fear him that our joy may not prove light and wanton and yet even then to rejoyce in him that our fear may manifest it self not to be slavish but filial becoming such blessed children of so great and good a Father Thus first in times of rest and peace we should walk in the comfort of Gods Spirit to qualify that former fear Secondly to answer and to Reas 2 suite with our present peace and so it proveth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a duty Eccles 3. 11. in its season which maketh every thing beautifull God expecting that his severall dispensations should be intertained with sutable affections and deportments In the day of prosperity be joyfull but in the day of adversity Eccles 7. 14. consider and as there is a time to weep so there is a time to laugh Eccles 3. 4. And what time more fit for that then when God smiles As it is said of the Jewes upon the restoring and settling of Jerusalems peace That they rejoiced because God had made them to rejoice Neh. 12. 43. The contrary hereunto is one kinde of taking Gods name in vain in crossing one of those ends which he intendeth in bestowing such mercies which is that we should serve the Lord with joyfulnesse and gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things Deut. 28. 47. and to delight our selves in the abundance of peace Psal 37. 11. which being neglected Gods end is frustrated and so his Name is taken in vain for that is in vain which falleth short of its end And therefore it is that there are so many and frequent commands of God to his people Israel to rejoice Deut. 12. 7 12. 18. 14. 26. 16. 11. 27. 7. before him in their Festivals and in every good thing which he gave them Deut. 26. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 16. 15. Thou shalt surely or onely rejoice Now this a sowre lowring either out of discontent or dejectednesse wholely frustrateth and takes out as to us the sweetnesse of Gods goodnesse by the bitternesse of our spirits For what good will a costly rich suite do on his back all whose bones are broken within and although it be never so fair weather above head yet deep foul way will make but uncomfortable travelling and therefore such uncomfortablenesse of spirit under such chearing providences is as sutable as a mourning suite on a marriage day or fasting on a Festivall or on a Lords day in the Die dominico jejunium nâ—sas ducimus Tertul. de corona Milit cap. 3. esteem of the primitive Christians It shutteth out clear day-light that we may mope in the dark and sendeth up foggs from a muddled heart to obscure the clear Sun-shine This Nehemiah forbad his people and would have them be of good cheer on a good day and told them that the joy of the Lord would be their strength Neh. 8. 9 10. God would have our hearts keep time with his hand when there is peace without would have aâ— answerable serenity within Job expected that his bed should comfort him Job 7. 11. and so they here in the Text when they had rest they walked as in the fear of the Lord so in the comfort of the holy Ghost And it s well said in the comfort Reason 3 of the holy Ghost that it might not onely be sutable to their outward peace but that it might also sanctifie it and spiritualize all the comfort and joy which they had in it For otherwise most commonly in outward peace and prosperity we are ready to take comfort enough and in some kindes and cases too much as we shall see more afterward in the application
against God himself the giver of them even Jesurun when grown fat begins to kick Deut. 32. 15. At least the heaping of such grosser fewell keepeth the fire from burning as it was in Ridleys Martyrdome and so too often in Fox Acts and Mon. Tom. 3. pag. 204. our hearts those sparkling joyes which should mount up to heaven are smothered and choked as the thornes of pleasures and lusts of other things are said to Luk. 8. 14. Mark 4. 19. choak the word and so these stifle all our spiritual comforts And what is this but in the clear warm Sunshine to sit dulling over our culinary fire and to shut out Heavens light that by such candle-light we may work the works of darkness But such of us as are children of the day what ever our outward condition be let our delight be to be in heavens light in the shine of the Sun of righteousness and if others will have theirs to be in corn and wine let ours with David be in Gods lifting up the light Psal 4. 6 7 of his countenance upon us that not onely his face may be towards us for so a mans may be and yet if held down may not be seen by us but so lifted up as to be beheld of us that not onely God may be reconciled to us but that we may see and know so much and let the same Davids prayer ever be ours let thy mercifull kindness be for my comfort Psal 119. 76. not my estate honour friends or any thing else but thy mercifull kindness Lord let that let that be for my comfort and then as He addeth in another Psalm Thou hast made him exceeding glad with the light of thy countenance Psal 21. 6. Glad we may be of outward refreshments even glad at heart in the sweet comfort of friends as Aaron was of Moses Exod. 4. 14. but exceeding glad the light of Gods countenance shining out in the face of Jesus Christ onely should make us as in this blessed example in the Text they were no doubt joyfully thankfull for their outward rest and peace But the comfort of the holy Ghost was their most pleasant walk which it 's therfore said they walked in in whose steps we should tread and for our incouragement herein consider that 1. On the one side this spiritual Motive joy in God will be more then able to fill up what ever shall be wanting as a great deal always will be in our outward comforts Have we never so much if there be never so little wanting that little want troubleth us more then all that great deal else which we enjoy can satisfie or in that case can pacify us at a little hole in the wall or window we feel a cooler winde come in then if the window had been all open Haman is in such a pett for want of a cap and a knee as without it all the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and that great deal more which he reckoneth up Esth 5. 11 12. availeth him nothing v. 13. but he that hath this comfort of the holy Ghost hath more then enough to answer and satisfy for all that otherwise he wants I have all I abound I am full saith Paul Phil. 4. 19. he speaketh at the rate of one that had now risen from a full and rich feast or banquet whereas this great all that he is so filled with was but a present that those Philippians had sent him and Calvin thinks it was no great matter and yet as though he had received as much as all the world was worth he crieth out I have all I am full viz. because he was filled with all joy and peace Rom. 15. 13. Iohn 4. 32. in beleeving Such with their Saviour have meat to eat that others know not of even hidden Manna as that was laid up in Revel 2. 17. the ark so this hid in a Christians breast and there it abides incorruptible vinum in pectore able to make us a full meal of hungry Commons and to make up what ever our dish or cup wants of full as the aire doth all the Caverns yea and least chinks in the earth so that there is no vacuum on the one side I say the comforts of the Spirit sweetneth and supplyeth what ever is bitter or defective in outward comforts 2. Whereas on the other hand our sitting down and taking up and so committing folly with these outward mercies takes out yea imbittereth all the sweet of them as a child begotten of fornication or adultery may be a very sweet and pleasant one and how much comfort and joy saith the parent should I have in it but that it is a bastard and that dampeth all and how much refreshment may others say might we have in this estate pleasure preferment but that our hearts have gone a whoring from God after them as it 's said of Ephraim Hos 13. 1. though when he spake trembling he exalted himself in Israel yet when he sinned in Baal he dyed or as it is said of the King of Tyrus Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created till iniquity was found in thee Ezech. 29. 15. that blasts and kills all And therefore as it is said of Abishag that she ministred to David and 1 King 1. 4. cherished him but He knew her not So with Gods good leave and much good do it you let these outward comforts cheer and refresh us but let us not commit folly with them that they do not befool us of better i. e. of spirituall delights but that in their greatest entertainments we may retain nay have quickned by them a spirituall appetite and ability to taste more sweetness in more blessed dainties as here in their outward peace amidst the crowd of other comforts they had hearts not shrunk up and contracted but inlarged to walk in the comfort of the holy Ghost A help hereto would be in Means our Survey and valuation of Gods gifts to us in temporall mercies to be sensible of spiritual as Jacob in his children of the Grace of God which had given them Gen. 33. 5. and accordingly the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psalmist all along in Psal 136. speaking of outward deliverances and provisions in redeeming from enemies and giving of food c. at the mention of every one of them endeth every verse with this thankfull Epiphonema for his mercy indureth for ever Labour we with him to see ever induring mercies in transitory injoyments that they come to us from a Fathers love by the blood of his Son in the way of a covenant proceeding from electing love and leading to everlasting life and that will add to them more worth and weight not to abase and press down and bury our souls under them but so as to raise up our hearts to God by them and to that more precious love of the Giver which hath put so much worth